AU646973B2 - Board game - Google Patents

Description

i~f~ a -AU STRALIAL PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE P/00/ol 1 Form Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: t TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Lc~/ X2' c-7 7 A'T 41~ t I f 1 L T6 T' 1Y 17 i 3 1 LVhi~. -1 S ILL -4r"T1-iiy Actual Inventor: Address for Service: K i 0 1' S 3y J S -j 2?vYJ Complete Specification for the invention entitled: R Co A K 1 C- IA m The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-* Note: The description is to be typed in double spacing, pica type face, in an area not exceeding 250 mm in depth and 160 mm in width, on tough white paper of good quality and it is to be inserted inside this form.

14599/78- L Printed by C. J. THOMPSON, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra The present invention relates to a new board game, which can be enjoyed by players having different levels of skill. It can be played as a simple board game by young children and other beginners, but can also be enjoyed by advanced players, with full understanding of game strategies. At the advanced level, the game has a level of complexity, providing consequent player satisfaction, similar to such popular games as bridge or chess.

The board game of the present invention comprises a set of playing pieces, a board defining a field of play extending between a start line and a finish line, that field of play being divided into two or more separate lanes, which are further subdivided into spaces each of which is occupiable at any one time by no more than one playing piece, at least one of said lanes being discontinuous and not extending the full distance between the start line and the finish line, and a pack of cards, wherein, in play, the playing piece of each player is moved along the field of play according to instructions on cards dealt to the players from said pack of cards. Preferably, the field of play comprises some spaces which must be left empty, i.e. they are not occupiable by a playing piece.

The board game is a competitive game which can be played by two or more, preferably two to twelve, players. The recommended number of players is two, three, four or six.

In a preferred embodiment, the game apparatus comprises a playing board in the form of a horse racing track, a set of playing pieces or tokens (each of which represents a horse) and a pack of cards. Several of the lanes of the racing track are discontinuous, and the continuous lanes vary in their number of spaces. In this way, the field of play can reproduce the significant features of an actual horse race, with lanes converging at the start, tightening up around the corners, and then diverging again as the finish line approaches (see Fig 1 of the accompanying drawings).

Ll Each player is dealt a specific number of cards (eg. five cards), which are played in turn one at a time, and replenished by picking up from the pack.

The card which is played determines which horse is to move and how many spaces it may move. Each move involves moving a token one space directly or diagonally forward. If a token is to be moved several spaces at a time, each single space move is performed separate and independently. For example, if a token is to be moved four spaces, then it can be moved one space directly forward, followed by one space diagnonally leftwards, followed by another space directly forward and a final move one space diagonally right. Alternatively, all four moves could be diagonally left, or all four moves could be directly forward.

The pack may contain "advance" cards for each horse, as well a as "pull back" and "bonus" cards.

At the start of the game, the tokens (representing horses) are lined up at the start line. The aim of the game is for a player to get its horse across the finish line first. This is achieved by using card skills and strategies for making best use of the field of play on the board to give a horse the best opportunities to obtain the maximum number of moves.

The field of play (or track) is divided up into a number of S- lanes, some of which may be discontinuous and therefore not extend the full distance between the start line and the finish line. Each lane is divided into spaces, which can be occupied by only one horse at a time. Furthermore, in this preferred embodiment, a horse is prohibited from moving into the space irmediately in front of another horse.

Several variations to the game are possible, to add interest.

For example, the track may include hurdles, i.e. spaces which are not occupiable by a horse. Therefore, a horse can only L _I Ii I jump a hurdle if a card is played which gives it two or more moves.

There may also be "advance" spaces on the track. If a horse is moved onto an "advance" space, it may then proceed forward the number of spaces which are indicated on that "advance" space.

As a further variation, the track may comprise some "go back" spaces. If a horse is forced onto a "go back" space, then it must go back the number of spaces which are indicated on the "go back" space.

An advanced player is able to use skill and game strategy in moving his/her horse to either block an opponent's horse or to make best use of the track.

In order to provide best understanding of the present invention, a particular embodiment is described in detail in the following example.

Example: THE RACING GAME Number of Players: 2 to 12.

Recommended Numbers of Players: 2, 3, 4 or 6.

Apparatus i. Racing Game Board. This is depicted in Fig 1 of the accompanying drawings. The meanings of the various legends are explained in Fig 2.

1.1 Spaces the board depicts a racetrack, which is divided into spaces onto which tokens (horses) can move according to the card played. A space can only be occupied by one horse at a time.

1.2 Hurdles a horse cannot move onto a space which is OL~L. l designated as a hurdle. If, for example, a horse occupies a space immediately before a hurdle, then it can only jump the hurdle if a card is played that gives it two or more moves.

1.3 Advance if a horse is moved onto a space which is designated as an "advance" space, then it may proceed forward the number of spaces indicated.

Only one "advance" space can be used per turn. An "advance" cannot be utilised if the horse was moved onto the "advance" space by using a bonus card.

1.4 Go Back if a horse is forced onto a space which is designated as a "go back" space, then it must go back either 6 or 8 spaces, as indicated on the "go back" space. A horse can be forced onto a "go back" space using a bonus card.

2. Twelve tokens, representing horses numbered from 1 to 12.

3. Racing Game Card Pack (312 cards).

3.1 Each horse has twenty-four cards attributed to it, made up of: singles (10) playing a single allows the horse to advance one space.

doubles (10) playing a double allows the horse to advance two spaces.

triples playing a triple allows the horse to advance three spaces.

quadro playing a quadro allows the horse to advance four spaces.

3.2 The pack also contains: 12 Pullback Cards the horse moved inmrediately before a pullback card is played must move back into the last space it came from. If the horse was unable to move during the last turn of play, then it must move back one space, but is free to choose that space.

12 Bonus Cards the horse moved inmediately before a bonus card is played can repeat the number of moves it was given, unless it is (or becomes) the leading horse, in which case it may advance only one space. A bonus card cannot be used to move a horse across the finish line.

General 1. The aim of the game is to win the race, with points also going to second and third placings.

2. This aim is achieved by playing the cards of your own horses to effectively use the "advance" spaces or the inside (shorter) track on the board.

3. A horse advances by moving from the space it occupies to an adjacent space directly or diagonally in front of it.

However, a horse cannot move into the space inrdnediately in front of another horse.

4. A competitor's horse can be used to block an opponent's horse. Cards that belong to the blocked horse can then be played, without it being able to move. In this way, the number of moves available to an opponent's horse can be reduced.

Skill is required in moving (riding) the horses, to make best use of the track.

6. Skill and judgement are required in knowing when to block an opponent's horse, and when it is better to open up the field.

7. Card skills are important to: remember which cards have been played by an opponent (especially quadros, pullbacks and bonuses), understand which cards your opponent may be holding, and be able to bluff your opponent.

Rules for 2 players 1. One player rides the odd numbered horses, whilst the other player rides the even numbered horses.

2. Cards are dealt alternately to each player by the player riding horse number 11 the player riding the odd numbered horses), until each player has 5 cards.

3. The player riding horse number 12 the player riding the even numbered horses) plays the first card and then picks up from the pack.

4. Each player plays a card and picks up from the pack in turn, with the card played determining which horse is moved, and by how many spaces.

5. When the pack is depleted of cards, the cards which have been played out are reshuffled and play continues.

6. If a pullback card is played and the horse to be pulled back has to go over a hurdle, then it must go back to the other side of the hurdle in the following manner: first move back is onto the hurdle space in the direction it came from (or, if the horse was not jumped in the previous turn, then it may move back in any direction). The horse then continues back over the hurdle, free to choose an adjacent space.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments in order to facilitate better understanding of the invention, it should be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope

Claims (9)

1. A board game apparatus comprising a set of playing pieces or tokens each of which represents a horse, a board in the form of a horse-racing track defining a field of play extending between a start line and a finish line, said field of play being divided into two or more separate lanes, which are further subdivided into spaces each of which is occupiable at any one time by no more than one playing piece or token, at least one of said lanes being discontinuous and not extending the full distance between the start line and the finish line, and a pack of cards, wherein, in play, the playing piece or token is moved in the field of play according to instructions on cards from said pack.

2. The board game apparatus of claim 1 wherein several lanes of the racing track are discontinuous, and the continuous lanes vary in their number of spaces.

3. The board game apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of said lanes comprise at least one space not occupiable by a playing piece or token.

4. The board game apparatus of claim 3 wherein said not occupiable space optionally contains instructions for a playing piece or token to move in a designated direction for a stipulated number of spaces.

The board game apparatus of claim 4 wherein said designated direction is toward the finish line or toward the start line.

6. The board game apparatus of any one of claims wherein at least one space of at least one said lane contains instructions for a playing piece or token to move in a designated direction.

7. The board game apparatus of claim 6 wherein said designated direction is toward the finish line or toward 35 the start line. Po'o0 0 .o 10

8. The board game apparatus of any one of claims 1-7 wherein said instructions on said cards determines which playing piece or token is to move and in which direction and how many spaces it may move.

9. The boarca game apparatus of claim 8 wherein said direction is toward the finish line or toward the start line. A board game apparatus substantially as described and with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. DATED this 22 day of December 1993 ROBERT LEON GAME Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO. 6 0 0 c0 i i 00 -a A